Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Minni - cardigan for a little girl

Making of Minni was long journey but finally she is all wrapped up and in print. While I have been making the last changes (thank you Cassie!) new snow has been coming steadily. The prospect of going outside, even to pick up the mail from the main road, does not appeal to me. There is plenty of snow shoveling ahead but I don't want to do it before the snow stops and it does not look like it will stop any time soon. Since I am not going out right now, I will share with you my new pattern.

I am a mother of three girls and the abundance of old pictures from the time the girls were small provides lots of inspiration. You already know how much I love small gauge(2,5 mm [US1.5]) and variegated fingering weight yarn so knitting a cardigan for a little girl was quite natural. I am not saying it was easy or that the pattern came together just by itself because it did not. There were lots of days with frustration and error and reknitting but finally little Minni is finished.
Schoppel Wolle Zauberball color Flussbett
Super Soxx Beige Creme 68
Sandness Garn Lanett Old Rose 4622
"What are little girls made of, made of? Of sugar and spice..." But if you add to the mix wool and stripes, you get little Minni!

The cardigan is knitted sideways in once piece mostly. The left front is separate for a while but is joined to the cardigan later on. When the knitting is done, side seams are grafted together with kitchener stitch. Of course you could use your preferred seaming method as well. The cardigan has vertical stripes and crocheted chain stitch in the hem breaks the monotony.

There is a small belt in the back on top of the part where the hem flares a bit. This little feature is my favorite.
 And if you like, you can add a little bit of something with embroidered patch. The pattern has instructions for it. Minni is written for three sizes: 0-3 months (6-9 months) 12-18 months. Three colors of fingering weight (420m/100g [459y/3½oz]) yarn is needed:
Schoppel Wolle 1701ombre
Opal Uni 1991
Malabrigo Sock Burgundy
100 (100) 125g of main color, 100g of contrasting color and 25g of highlighting color for the belt, I-cords, front edgings and the crocheted chain. Fingering weight yarn produces a light and warm cardigan.
Zitron Trekking Hand Art Color Sahara
Grignasco Merino Lace (held three together)
Malabrigo Merino Sock
Minni looks lovely with soft, quiet tones but will be full of mischief and character with bright, variegated yarns, where it is difficult to predict the color of the next stitch.
If you would like to knit this, please find a link in the sidebar to my Ravelry shop. (One should have knowledge of basic knitting skills and of I-cord, provisional cast on, crocheted chain stitch and kitchener stitch.)
The snow has stopped. The pattern is uploaded to Ravelry, the blog is updated. Really, there is no excuse any more, I guess I should get outside soonest.

Wool with you,
Lene

Minni errata (March 9, 2010):

Part II

page 6, Row 87 (MC)(WS) For size 0-3 months:
... "The right front is now complete and this completes the part II." Not part III as the pattern says.

page 7, Row 90 (MC)(RS) For size 6-9 months:
..."K55, k YO tog with the next st, k9 (not k8 as the pattern says), k1tbl."

page 7, Row 93 (MC) (WS) For size 6-9 months:
... "The right front is now complete and this completes the part II." Not part III as the pattern says.

Finishing

Row 1: (WS)
Knowing that the first row is wrong side row, helps to understand knitting the edging.

My sincere apologies for the mistakes.

51 comments:

  1. I love this sweater...

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  2. Oh my stars, Lene, Minni is so precious! I adore the style and it looks like it would allow for quite a bit of growth and still fit the child. The flare below the belt and other details make it all the more special. Congratulations on creating this beauty!

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  3. Anonymous16:46

    So beautiful! You are a gifted designer and your attention to detail is humbling!

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  4. Mary Anne16:49

    Dearest Lene,
    Your little "Minni" is beautiful! I've been following your wonderful blog for many years and you design the most beautiful knit wear. I'm so happy that you are sharing your creativity with all of us. You are truly inspiring. I will definitely go to the Ravelry shop for your pattern. I have a friend who is having her first baby....maybe today! I hope she has a girl so I can knit "Minni" for her.

    All the best,
    Mary Anne

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  5. Lovely! It's a pity all my little ones are boys.

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  6. Beautiful X 3!!
    I love the way you combine different yarns. Very original.
    The belt at the back is my favorite too. :) A. xx

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  7. Anonymous17:20

    Oh my - it's Beautiful! Especially with the added details :)
    Snow here too.
    deni

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  8. so gorgeous!! what a great design.

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  9. Anonymous18:21

    I am madly, deeply, completely in love with this little sweater. I know there must be a way to make it bigger so that I can have one too. Soooo lovely.

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  10. Simply beautiful. Lovely, just lovely...wish I still had small girls!! S.

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  11. Anonymous19:13

    Lene - this is really lovely. Please now design a version for adult "girls" too! This will look very interesting as a wearable and comfortable beautiful sweater. best regards.

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  12. Fantastic and nice

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  13. It's just darling, Lene! Ooooh, I hope I have a little girl so I can knit one for her!

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  14. Lene, I saw Minni on Ravelry this morning and swooned. Love at first sight! Thank you!
    We actually had quite the Winter Wonderland down here this past weekend, I enjoyed every moment, alas it's all melting away now. xox

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  15. Lene, this is just beautiful. A perferct jewel.

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  16. A very lovely design, Lene. If I would have children or grandchildren or if I would at least know someone with children i n that age, I would knit it.- But I could imagine that it would look precious in a version for adults, too!...

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  17. Anonymous20:48

    Oh I love it. I love it so much that I consider making a baby.

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  18. Beth in Maryland21:00

    Beautiful and unique! I love it.

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  19. Such a beautiful cardigan. Cute and very elegant and with stunning details. Please consider upsizing the pattern for bigger girls. My 5-year old princess would love to wear it and I would love to knit it.

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  20. luisa21:36

    Lovely, Lene. I wish I had a little girl to knit her this coat.

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  21. Ann in Montreal23:13

    Minni is very, very charming. My niece is expecting her second child this summer and I am very much hoping for a great neice. Minni would make a lovely welcome to the world gift. The belt in the back and the gores of varigated colour are wonderful design elements.
    I too have been playing with varigated sock yarns, a solid yarn(for fun I am using Dreams in Color Starry, the yarn with silver filament spun with the wool) and garter stitch. A relaxing counter-point to the complex lace knitting I undertake in the depths of winter.

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  22. Alena00:05

    Stunning! I have purchased both this and Lilliput and now I just need to hunt down a little girl to knit these for. Your creativity is amazing and I look forward to more designs. I'll second all the other comments to size this up for us big girls.

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  23. I wish I had a little one to knit this for - it's beautiful!

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  24. This is simply gorgeous! And I know the perfect little girl to wear it, my granddaughter Gretchen. The back is the icing-on-the-cake. I'm with the others who wouldn't mind a big girl's pattern!

    Love your blog & am thrilled when there's an new post.

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  25. It's so beautiful! You are an amazing knitter and designer.

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  26. Pleeease: the same again for Big Little Girls!! This is exactly what I have been looking for pattern-wise but it's been a long time since I fit into 18 month sizes!

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  27. Love this little sweater--in particular the back of it. It's inspired!

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  28. Jeannie05:41

    Love this sweater!! I wish I had this pattern when my duaghter was tiny. she is 17 now! so cute. thanks for sharing, and I loved the last post with Tina!

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  29. Anonymous08:36

    Yippee!

    I know just the wee one who'd love one of these cardigans. .

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  30. Andie10:21

    Simply beautiful

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  31. It is a classic. I love it. When When When are you going to put a book proposal together. You should be published in the more traditional format. not just on the web. (even though i did discover you via internet)

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  32. It's beautiful, Lene! Would you consider an adult version of the pattern?

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  33. This is a wonderful, unique baby garment. My granddaughter is expecting and we don't know yet if it is a girl. (I hope, I hope, I hope!)

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  34. Anonymous01:18

    Thank you! But I want a big Minni, for me :-)

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  35. Gorgeous work...as usual. Seeing reminded me, how much I wanted a girl...(I have a boy, I love him more than anything and cannot imagine he could be anyone else, but still...)

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  36. Ann-Charlott11:12

    Yes please, it would be so wonderful with an adult version!

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  37. Lotta11:14

    Yes please, it would be wonderful if you would consider an adult version!

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  38. Beautiful sweater! Beautiful detail.

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  39. Drop-dead gorgeous. Have you thought about making it in an adult size?

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  40. Anonymous03:25

    LOVE the sweater. As usual , your use of color is refreshing.


    On an unrelated note - can Maryland, USA be awarded an honorary Arctic status? We have had 3 snowfalls in the past week and today's is supposed to reach 70 cm(28 in)!
    MargieinMaryland

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  41. Heart-stoppingly gorgeous as always, Lene, and just that bit more feminine than the lilliput sweater. I hope to make one for my niece over spring vacation this year.

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  42. Minni is a lovely little cardigan. Just beautiful. You are so talented and so patient.
    Janet

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  43. Both elegant and simple. Just lovely -- and exquisite details.

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  44. marsha05:41

    I have no little girls to knit for, but I really want to make this sweater. It is beautiful. Maybe for some future grandchild.
    Snow here too, 24inches and more coming tonight and tomorrow, in the Washington DC area, and we don't usually get very much snow. Lots of knitting time.

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  45. Lovely! Especially the little belt!

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  46. Adore your project! It's cute, excellent techniques and beauty in colour!

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  47. Anonymous03:04

    Would you consider making a Maxi - cardigan for women? I love it!

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  48. Anonymous15:39

    I LOVE this sweater!!! You need to make a pattern for adults!!! PLEASE!!!!!

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  49. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  50. Love this design! I want to knit for size 18months to 2 years. Can I just increase needle size to size 3 or 3.25, I'm using 4ply superfine merino (Morris & Sons, Empire 4ply)

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